Negotiations are ongoing in Fallujah for a deal which would allow the Sunni tribal leaders in the city to take control from al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI), which occupied the city late last week.
Tribal fighters retook parts of the city yesterday, and now the talks seem to be heading toward a settlement of the issue. The Iraqi military has promised to hold off on attacking the city until a deal is reached.
A deal doesn’t necessarily preclude an offensive, however, as tribal leaders have made it clear that they don’t consider the Iraqi military any more welcome than AQI is, and they have no intention of returning the city to Maliki government control.
The military, meanwhile, is fighting against AQI in the village of al-Bubali, which lies strategically between Ramadi and Fallujah. Significant clashes have been reported, and roadside bombs have badly damaged a number of military vehicles.